Andersen Corporation Steam Generation Facility
Bayport, Minnesota

A new Steam Generation Facility (SGF) at Andersen Corporation's Bayport facility is a testament to Minnesota's largest window manufacturer applying innovative, renewable energy design to its own operations. With steam energy no longer available from Xcel Energy's nearby King Plant, Andersen had an opportunity to build a new SGF to produce 100% of its own steam and thermal demand to heat and cool its Bayport facility.

By combining wood-fired (biomass) boilers with the heat recovery resulting from a Warm Water Recovery System (WWRS), the new steam source eliminated Andersen's reliance on coal-based steam. Wood fuel used in the burners is a by-product from Andersen's own wood milling operations. An ash utilization program for soil enhancement by local crop farmers is intended.

The innovative design concept utilizes the Xcel King Plant condenser discharge water for heating make-up air for the production facility, providing a higher beneficial end use of the warm water discharge. Installation of four large air handling units offset the need for an additional boiler. The design concept also allowed a lower-temperature discharge water into the adjacent St. Croix River after the heat is transferred to the air within the facility.

An aggressive permitting and design-build schedule was met and the new facility was brought online in March 2007. TKDA assembled the design-build team and provided concept development, planning, engineering and architecture services.